Leadership, Politics and Accountability: G.W. Jones' Contribution to Local Government

Abstract

In response to the PAC's project on Volumes of Influence (referring to the contribution made by political scientists to the study and development of public policy/public administration) this article attempts to evaluate the influence of G. W. Jones' contribution to local government over the last thirty years or so. It analyses his groundbreaking works on the development and importance of party politics in Wolverhampton (Borough Politics, 1969) and on political leadership and the developing political processes in the ‘running’ of London under Herbert Morrison (Herbert Morrison: Portrait of a Politician, 973). It also attempts to evaluate Jones' contribution to the defence of local government over this period. The article suggests that Jones led a crusade for over 30 years on behalf of local government for its political processes to be understood and valued. In so doing he challenged conventional wisdom on the role of local political parties and political leadership as well as helped to set the agenda for study and research into these areas. Recent developments, relating to the importance of the political processes in local government (e.g. Widdicombe Committee) and the emergence of a cabinet or mayoral government, have vindicated Jones' views on these issues.